There is no straightforward answer because some deductions are above the line, others must be itemized, some must exceed a threshold amount before being deductible, and certain ones are not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes, while business deductions can offset both income and self-employment tax. In other words, there are many factors to consider,…
Although most people who marry hope their unions will last forever, about 50% of first marriages in the United States end in divorce.1 Individuals age 50 and older are still less likely to get divorced than those who are younger. Even so, the divorce rate for Americans under age 40 has declined since 1990, while it…
By: Tim O’Pry | Chief Security Officer Over the years (decades), I have been asked for tips on everything from starting a business to the perfunctory cocktail question of, “What do you do?”. Regardless of the question, the answer is the same: I manage failure points. That answer tends to end most casual cocktail conversation…
If you are a business owner who is accustomed to treating clients to sporting events, golf getaways, concerts and the like, you were no doubt saddened by the part of the tax reform that passed last December that did away with the business-related deductions for entertainment, amusement or recreation expenses, beginning in 2018. You can…
Individual crowdsourcing (also known as personal crowdsourcing) refers to a process of raising money for a personal cause or project using an online platform such as GoFundMe. But how exactly does the process work? Here are some answers to common questions about individual crowdsourcing. What causes can be supported via individual crowdsourcing? Individual crowdsourcing can…
Your refund is the amount that your pre-payments (withheld income tax, estimated tax payments, and certain credits) exceed your tax liability, and if the pre-payment also got reduced, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise at tax time. So, why would the pre-payments, particularly withholding, be less? Simply because the current W-4 form on…
December and January are the perfect months to look back at what you earned, saved, and spent, as W-2s, account statements, and other year-end financial summaries roll in. How much have you saved? If you resolved last year to save more or you set a specific financial goal (for example, saving 15% of your income…
In today’s Marietta Daily Journal, Bil Lako, CFP®, explains how easy it is for the charitably inclined to establish their own donor-advised fund to increase the impact of their giving. Read the Article This article is for demonstrative and academic purposes and is meant to provide valuable background information on particular investments, NOT a recommendation to…
We’re in a bit of a transitional period with business bill-paying. Some paper bills still come via the U.S. Mail, however you may also be getting some through email. Others don’t come at all: You might get a reminder email, but you have to go to the vendor’s site to make a payment. How do…
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The PSLF, which began in 2007, forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time…
